A method for operating a communications controller includes defining a positive integer quantity of resource element groups from a resource block with a positive integer number N resource elements in each resource element group, the resource block having a total number of resource elements, the total number of resource elements consisting of available resource elements and reserved resource elements. The method also includes assigning a plurality of available resource elements to fill in each of the positive integer quantity of resource element groups with N available resource elements in each resource element group, and blocking any unassigned available resource elements from being used in a resource element group. The method further includes interleaving a plurality of control messages onto the positive integer quantity of resource element groups, and transmitting the positive integer quantity of resource element groups.